10 Body Language Blunders

1. A Closed Body

Whether sitting or standing, your body should be loose and open. Do not cross your arms. Do not cross your legs. While you may think it conveys a sense of ease, studies have shown that a people read a closed body differently: they subconsciously think you have something to hide.

What’s more, you’re missing a golden opportunity to send a positive signal. In keeping your body open and your arms spread a little more widely than your torso, you offer your counterpart a “mock hug”. You don’t want to actually hug them (that could be mistake #11!), but this visual cue of a hug antecedent sends the right signal.